does architecture shape culture?

The cathedral in Toledo is an amazing example of Gothic architecture. One of the major features of the cathedral is the huge altarpiece at the back of the chancel (the Capilla Mayor). Created of gilded and painted wood, the stunning detail of the carvings depict scenes from the gospels. But standing in front of this sight several weeks ago, I was struck by something else.

Notice the iron gate in front of the chancel? This is an architectural feature common to many of the old cathedrals and churches I saw in Spain. While European cathedrals frequently have low marble railings in front of the chancel (the part of the church where the altar is located and where the priests celebrate the Mass), I had never before seen so many churches whose design so emphatically separates the priests from the worshipping congregation. The non-verbal message is clear: This chancel is holy space. You are not allowed in here. Clergy only. Architecturally, the building emphasizes the authority of the priesthood.

I wonder about the effect this architecture had on a population who lived with gated-chancel churches for centuries and took them for granted. What part did it play in shaping Spanish culture? Did it encourage the ecclesial authoritarianism that led to the Spanish Inquisition? Under the control of the Spanish monarchy, the Inquisition lasted over 350 years, coercing Muslims and Jews to adopt Christianity under pain of death and monitoring the orthodoxy of converts. The Inquisition is surely one of the most disturbing chapters in the history of Christendom.

Did ecclesiastical architecture also lead to an overly compliant population? Why did the Spanish people accept a succession of French and Austrian monarchs? Why did they tolerate the 40 year dictatorship of Franco? Did the consistent visual separation between the people and the clergy affect the Spanish psyche to such an extent that it did not question authority? I have no answers, but I think that's an important question to ponder.

But let's conclude with a sign of hope. Pictured at the left is a picture taken inside the Sagrada Família, an unfinished church being built in Barcelona. Designed by art deco architect Antoni Gaudí (1852-1926), the church is still under construction. If the old cathedrals of Spain embody an authoritarian aesthetic, Gaudí's church is whimsical and organic in design. The columns take the form of trees, leading upwards to vaults designed to look like a forest canopy. This is a very different vision of what religious community should be like and of what worship is about. I wonder how Gaudi's church is shaping the culture of Barcelona.

This is why foreign travel fascinates me. Church buildings are more than ecclesiastical artifacts. Created by architects and artisans who expressed the vision of their age and culture in the buildings they constructed, old churches are windows into the history of our civilization. By experiencing the artifacts of past centuries, perhaps we can gain a better understanding of the present and glimpse a vision of how we need to shape our future.

copyright (c) 2009 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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